Give a Little Tech Support Along with Your Gift

Personal pet peeve: when someone gives my parents or grandparents a high tech gift, but then doesn't install said item or teach them how to use it. Over the years, I've seen Harmony remotes, digital picture frames and smartphones all go unused for years after being gifted. And that's the short list.

If you're thinking about getting the hottest new gadget for someone in your life who has historically been a little less than tech savvy, be a doll and do this one thing for them:

Make yourself available to set up the device, teach them how to use it and check in on how it's going.

Liz is a writer and filmmaker from Minneapolis. She was nominated for a Webby and won an Emmy for Science of Watchmen, a documentary short about the physics in the comic book movie. She’s a tech obsessive, verified nerd and total Anglophile.